Library Charges and Fines

Late Return of Recalled Items

The University Library's policy is that all borrowed materials are subject to recall if they are required by another member. The current user is given a period of time - up to 7 days - to make use of the material before returning it. In order to encourage members to comply and to strengthen the current recalls policy, the Library charges fines for the late return of recalled library material. Please note that these fines apply to all members - students, staff and external borrowers alike.

Members are required to return, on time, Library material that has been recalled. Those who do not will be charged a fine of £1.00 per day for each day or part day overdue, up to a maximum of £15.00. Members who reach the maximum fine will also be sent a bill for the replacement cost of the item or items concerned. The average cost to the Library of purchasing a textbook is currently £30.00. Once billed, even if items are returned, members will have to pay the £15.00 fine.

Loans 8 Weeks Overdue

Members will be charged the replacement cost of the item or the average cost to the library of purchasing a textbook (currently £30.00). The library will establish the replacement cost of journal parts in consultation with journal suppliers.

Overdue Academic Reserve Items

Fine of £1.00 per hour for the first hour overdue. £0.50 per hour thereafter, every hour. Maximum of £15.00 per item

Inter-Library Loan Items

If your loan is not returned by the due date you will be fined £4.00 per item.

Debt Recovery Policy

The Robert Gordon University applies the following policy to students regarding overdue library materials.

If you become aware of any difficulties regarding overdue library material, you must contact the Library on (01224) 263450 immediately to discuss the matter.

Failure to return library material will result in the following:

A bill being issued for the replacement cost of the item.

Accrued fines on the item being payable.

Library and IT accounts being blocked.

If the bills remain outstanding students will not be allowed to enrol for the next year of their course or to graduate at the end of their course.

The University's sanction of withholding conferment of awards to students who are in debt to the University will apply. Although the results themselves will be released by the University in those circumstances, this is not a conferment of an award and any confirmation of these results to the student will bear clear notice "that this is not an official conferment of an award by The Robert Gordon University"

Blocks will not be removed until all charges are paid.

Notices regarding overdue materials will be emailed to the student's University email account. It is the student's responsibility to check his/her Outlook Account for messages. Legal action will be taken to recover outstanding debt 90 days after a bill is issued.

This Policy covers material in the Academic Reserve Collection, recalled items and all other library materials. The timescale for billing for overdues, and the implementation of other sanctions, varies depending on the nature of the material and the urgency with which it is needed by other users. Further details of these timescales are listed below.

Timetable for raising bills and removing Library and IT access

1. Academic Reserve Material

Time

Action

Action

Overdue Day 1

Notice sent to user advising that their Library account is blocked due to overdue Academic Reserve item. User is advised that a bill will be raised for the overdue item the following day and that their IT account will be blocked if the item is not returned forthwith.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 2

A bill is raised and sent to user. Fines accrued for academic reserve items will still be payable. IT access will be blocked.

Letter sent to user.

Overdue Day 92

Legal action will be taken to recover the outstanding debt.

Letter sent to user.

2. Recalled Material

Time

Action

Mode of Notice Delivery

Recall Notice

Notice sent to user advising that an item they have on loan is required by another user. The item must be returned within 7 days. If the item is not returned the user's Library Account will be blocked.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 1

Notice sent to user advising that their Library Account is blocked. The timetable for further actions is set out.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 4

Notice sent to user advising that their Library Account is blocked. The timetable for further actions is set out.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 7

Notice sent to user advising that a bill will be issued in 8 days and that their IT account will be blocked if the item is not returned.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 10

Reminder notice that a bill will be issued in 5 days and that their IT account will be blocked if the item is not returned.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 15

Bill sent to user for the replacement cost of the overdue material. Accrued fines will be payable. User advised that IT and Library accounts are now blocked.

Letter sent to user

Overdue Day 105

Legal action will be taken to recover the outstanding debt

Letter sent to user

3. All other Library material

If an overdue item is recalled it will then follow the pattern of Recalled Items.

Time

Action

Mode of Notice Delivery

Prior to overdue

Courtesy reminder notice of due date of loan.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 7

Reminder to user that they have an outstanding loan. The item can be renewed if it is still required. User advised of timetable of further actions

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 21

Reminder to user that they have an outstanding loan. The item can be renewed if it is still required. User advised of timetable of further actions

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 35

Reminder to user that they have an outstanding loan. The item can be renewed if it is still required. User is advised that if the item is not returned in 7 days their Library account will be blocked. User advised of timetable of further actions

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 42

Notice sent to advise that Library account is now blocked. User advised that if the item is not returned in 14 days a bill will be raised for the replacement cost of the item and IT access will be removed.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 49

Notice sent to advise that a bill will be raised for the overdue item in 7 days and that in addition to the Library account being blocked, IT access will be removed.

Notice to user's University email account.

Overdue Day 56

Bill for replacement cost of overdue item issued. IT access blocked

Letter to user

Overdue Day 146

Legal action will be taken to recover the outstanding debt

Letter to user

Policy on Copyright

Copyright is an automatic right which protects all those who have created an original piece of work.

The copyright owner (usually the creator of the work) has the right to control the way in which the work is used, and can prevent others using the work and exploiting it without permission. Copyright within work may be purchased, licensed or assigned.

For further information, email:

Repository Policies

OpenAIR is the open
access institutional repository of Robert Gordon University (RGU), featuring a
variety of research outputs produced by researchers – both academic staff and
postgraduate research students – associated with the University. Please address any queries
about the policy to openair-help@rgu.ac.uk

Repository policy

This policy defines the content that RGU will hold on
OpenAIR, the general workflow by which material is added to OpenAIR, the nature
of RGU’s commitment to preserving material held on OpenAIR, and the conditions
under which material may be withdrawn from OpenAIR.

3. Requesting books from RGU Library stock

If the material you have requested is unavailable, Library Staff will place a hold on a copy for you.

It will be assumed that any item reserved through My Account on the Library catalogue will be picked up in person from the Library.

Books will be mailed to students residing within the UK only

Books are sent by recorded delivery so it is important to use a delivery address where a signature can be obtained.

Most books can be renewed before the due date provided your library account is not blocked (e.g. if you have overdue books or fines) and that no-one else has placed a recall on them.

The books can be renewed either by telephone (01224 263450) or through My Account on the Library catalogue

4. Returning books issued through the Postal Loan Service

While on loan books are your responsibility

Books must be returned in person, or by mail adequately packaged by the due date

If the books are requested by another reader, a recall notice will be issued by email to the student's University email account.

If a book is recalled the date it is due to be returned to the Library will be revised and the book must be returned earlier.

Recalled books must be returned by the revised due date.

Non return of recalled items will result in fines being levied.

The library will pay the outgoing postal charges and the student is responsible for the return postal fees

5. Excluded Categories

The following materials will not be lent through the postal loan service

Reference material

Academic Reserve

Journals

Any other materials considered by the Library to be unsuitable for postal loan

6. Requests for material not held in RGU stock (Inter Library Loans)

Distance
Learners based in the UK can request items via the Inter-Library Loan scheme
and have them posted to their home or work address. There is a charge of £5.00
for this service. Loaned items cannot be posted overseas.